Shaft bearing



Aug- 11, l953 w. s. ANDERSON 2,648,575

SHAFT BEARING Filed Dec. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES T lNr OFFICE SHAFT BEARING William S. Anderson, Williamsport, Pa., assignor of one-half to James E. .Axeman, Williamsport, Pa.

Application December 13, 1949, Serial No. 132,695 9 Claims. (o1. sos-127) This invention relates to shaft bearings, espe-r cially to bearings which are exposed to high temperatures, and has for an object the provision of improvements in this art.

One of the particular objects is to provide a 5 vided axially spaced bearing supports I8 housing bearing vmh lils 'cnstlantlty' bthd in1 allliangk; bearing liners2 or assemblies I9. The liners have ing suppy o o1 w ere y 1 1s ep coo a oug end flanges l) facing each other in an interlt nay be lffeaiefd near highly heatoed nppratus mediate `compartment and adjacent these flanges suc as a ue urnace. I may e men ioned the shaft is provided with oil slinger disks 2| trfiat Irhe betlrirlilg has been delkellopecll fortthe slfaft spaced from the flanges by fiber washers 22. 'Irhe o a an w 1c opera es in e ex aus gas ue slinger disks are secured, as by screwsr23, to he 0f a C031 burning furnaee Where it is necessary shaft and the arrangement constitutes end thrust tl pfltacte tle bearlndg v ey lose to ne ian to avoid bearings which retain the shaft in proper axial s a en ing an v1 ra ion an w ere conseposi ion, quently the temperature is very high. The bearing supports I8 are provided without- AnOthel ObJeet 1St0 nrOVIde constant and arnwardly inclined drip pins 24 which catch oil ple aeration or the oil to keep 1t cool. thrown up by the slingerdisks and cause it to Another ObJee 1S tOtprllovlde Slrnpl and lncreep downward to the sides of the supports and DenSlVe Ineens 01 Ca C lng an re ulnlng e there run down on the ends of the bearing liners oil which is thrown out for lubrication and aera- 2O I9. These liners are provided with oil grooves tion. leading to holes 26 above the shaft.

Another object is to provide improved means Some oil passes outward along the shaft from for preventing escape of oil by `creep along the the bearings and'for the purpose of halting this Shaft, especially that incident t0 StODlng and movement there are provided grooved slinger stnltlngb d th b t d d t f 2* disks 21 which are secured to the shaft, as by set en 0V@ an 0 er 0 jee S an a Van ageSO screws 28. These slinger disks 27 are smaller the llrVe'ntlOn Wm be apparent from the f0110W1r1-g than the disks 2I and do not dip into the oil bath, descrlprlorl 0f a Preferred exemplary embofh' consequently only throw out such oil as creeps ment, reference being made to the accornparlylng along the shaft. Specifically, it is the inner edge dmfvmgs Phereof Wherem 21a of each disk 27 which throws out oil during Fl'g- 1 1S a horlzontal plan amr Sectlfm of a normal rotation of the shaft. When the shaft bearing assembly embofiymg the mventlon' the stops turning the oil which remains on the disks COVlelr meanslbellg Om'fted to Show parts nor' 21 r-uns down into the groovesand when the shaft malg Cgne 81% nglglal vertical Section with is again rotated this oil is thrown outfrom both y the inner edge 21a and the outer edge-2lb. the covr means m Plac the Sectmn bemg taken Excess oil thrown out by allv slinger disks is onthe11ne2-2 ofF1g.1, t d b n h. 1d 3B r1.1 t t1 A Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on s ppp@ y a' Covel s le W 101 res s on le therme 3 3 OfFig 1, and sloplng tops of the bearing supports I8 and ex- Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on tend's to 0r near the'bottom of the 011 IJOX' The" the une 4 4 of Fig. 2 but showing a slightly 40 Sleplne tops o f the Supports are provlded With modied Support for the inner Cover grooves 3| wlnch at the lower end are cut away Referring to the drawings, a furnace flue m on one or both sides to allow the oil collectmgis provided with an interior fan mounted on therein to run back into the ybath of oil in the a shaft |2 The shaft extends out of the flue bottom of the box. The lower front edge of the Wan through an Oversized Opening 3 to a sup- 45 shield is bent down at 30a to cause oil to drip off. porting bearing assembly which is generally des- The rlart; 51de 30h/cof??? Shlld. extterrlds down arr ignated by the numeral I4. The bearing asenllg 0 PIeVen 01 IOm elng IOWn 11D e- Sembly is Carried by a .base g5 which is supported hind the shield. The shield stops short of the by any suitable means, such as a pedestal I5a, 50 ends of the box to avoid oil `creep to the ends. which absorbs vibration without transmitting it The ends are left open around the Shaft at 32 to the furnace assembly but which does not perabove the oil bath for free movement of air mit sufcient movement of the shaft I2 to permit through the bearing lnSSemlOy 't0v C001 the Q11v it to engage the furnace casing at the oversized thrown Ont by the Slinger disks.' The Teal DOIT- hole I3. 55 tion of the bearing supports I8 is' cutaway to The base I5 carries upstanding end walls |61 and side walls Il which together with the base or bottom constitute a box or well for containing a supply of oil. Within the box there are pro- 3 leave openings 33 beneath the shield for the air movement.

An overflow opening 34 controls the level of the oil bath. It is shown to be closed by a plug but it is understood to be connectible to a pump sump. Another opening 35 which is normally closed by a plug 36 is provided for draining oil from the box.

The box is covered by a cap 31 which is retained by any suitable means, such as screws 38. The shaft is driven by a pulley 39 on the outer end away from the heat of the furnace.

It is seen from the above description that an oil bath of fixed amount is kept in the bearing box land that when the shaft rotates the slinger disks 2| throw out a considerable amount of oil Iagainst the under surface of the shield or cover 30. A part of the oil thrown out strikes the drip pins 24 and creeps down the lower surface thereof until it reaches the sides of the bearing supports I8 where it then runs down into the oil grooves and thence to the shaft. The shaft is thereby constantly and generously supplied with fresh cool oil.

Such oil as passes outward from the bearings along the shaft is Athrown out by the small slinger disks 2 so that no oil escapes from the bearing boxvalong the shaft.

The heavy spray of oil whic'h is thrown out by the large dipping slinger disks 2l and which strikes the under surface of the shield causes an endwise flow along the shield but this flow is largely stopped by the supports IB on which the shield rests and the grooves 3| assist in conning this outward ow. Some oil may flow to the outer ends of the shield and some further oil is thrown out to these ends by the small slinger disks 21 but since the shield ends stop short of the box ends no oil will ow from the shield ends to the box ends. The downturned edge 30a between bearing supports keeps the shield in proper position axially. If desired, the shield may be fastened, as by screws, but because of its shape and disposition such securement is not necessary and it is sufficient merely to lower the shield down upon its supports.

A supporting ledge 40 for the rear side 30h of the Ishield is illustrated in Fig. 4 and this allows oil to drain ofie from the entire shield so that it does not -drip when removed, but, if desired, this ledge may be omitted, allowing the shield side 30h to extend to the bottom of the oil bath as shown in Fig. 3.

From the above description it will be seen that a well-oiled, well-aerated, well-cooled and very simple and inexpensive bearing assembly has been provided.

While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that there may be various embodiments within the general scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A bearing I:assembly comprising in combination, a shaft, a bearing housing, spaced bearing supports and bearings for said shaft within said housing and spaced from the ends thereof, oil slinger disks secured to said shaft between said supports and acting therewith to form end thrust bearings for the shaft, sloping drip pins secured above'said disks and shaft bearings for catching oil from the disks and feeding it to said shaft bearings, small grooved oil slinger disks on said shaft outside said supports for throwing out oil creeping along the shaft, and a slope-sided splash shield resting on said supports and covering all of `said slinger disks, said supports having drain grooves beneath said shield, said shield terminating short of the ends of said housing, the ends of said housing being open, and said supports having openings beneath said shield.

2. A shaft bearing assembly comprising in combination, a shaft, a shaft bearing box holding a bath of oil, a bearing support carrying a, shaft bearing above the oil bath level, oil slinging means carried by said shaft at one side of said bearing and normally dipping in the bath of oil, means for catching oil thrown out and conveying `it to the bearing, oil slinging means on the other side of said bearing and normally standing above the oil bath level for throwing olf oil creeping along the shaft, an inside roof-shaped cover removably carried by the bearing support and covering lboth of said oil slinging means, and a structural cover secured to the top of the box above and spaced from said roof-shaped cover.

3. A shaft bearing assembly comprising in combination. a shaft, a box-shaped casing having a vbottom and side walls and end walls for holding an oil bath in its lower portion, bearing supports within the casing carrying spaced bearings above the oil bath, said supports having a top portion sloping downward to the side walls of the casing, oil slinger means on said shaft dipping into the oil bath, a cover shield resting on the tops of said supports over said slinger means and bearings, and supporting elements for said cover shield, said supporting elements having oil collecting land draining grooves in their sloping tops beneath the cover for returning oil to the bat'h and preventing oil from flowing outward along the cover.

4. A shaft bearing assembly comprising in combination, a shaft bearing box having a bottom and side walls `and end walls for holding a bath of oil, shaft bearing supports disposed in said box and providing shaft bearings above the oil bath, oil slinger means throwing of oil centrifugally, inclined pins disposed above the slinger means which catch some of the oil thrown off and lead it to the bearings, and a cover carried within the box on the bearing supports and covering said oil slinger means for catching oil thrown off, said cover sloping downwardly at the sides toward the sidewalls of the box to drain oil back into the bath.

5. A shaft bearing assembly comprising vin combination, a shaft bearing box holding a 'oath of oil, shaft bearing supports disposed in said box and providing shaft bearings above the oil bath, oil slinger means throwing off oil Vcentrifllgally, inclined pins disposed above the slinger meaIlS which catch sorse of the oil thrown of? and lead it to the bearings, and a cover carried within the box on the bearing supports and covering said oil slinger means for catching oil thrown off, said cover sloping downwardly at the sides t0 drain oil back into the bath, and said cover on the upwardly moving side of the slinger means extending downward to form a closure within the box down to the oil bath level.

5. A shaft hearing assembly comprising in combination, a shaft bearing box holding a bath of oil, shaft bearing supports disposed in said box and providing shaft bearings above the oil bath, oil slinger means throwing off oil centrifugally, inclined pins disposed above the slinger means which catch some of the oil thrown off and lead it to the bearings, and a cover carried within the box on the bearing supports and covering said oil slinger means for catching oil thrown oil, said cover sloping downwardly at the sides to S drain oil back into the bath, and said cover being shorter than the inside length of the box and being provided with means cooperating With said supports for keeping its ends spaced from the ends of the box.

7. A shaft bearing assembly comprising in combination, a shaft bearing box having a bottom and side walls and end `walls for holding a bath of oil, upstanding bearing supports within said box and spaced from its side and end Walls, a shaft rotatably supported within bearings in said supports, the end Walls of the box having oversized openings around the shaft above the oil level providing air passages along the shaft, oil slinger disk means on the shaft dipping in the oil bath between the bearing supports which throw off oil centrifugally during rotation of the shaft, means spaced at a distance above the slinger disk means for catching a limited amount of oil thrown off, means for conducting Oil from said oil catching means to said bearings, oil slinger disk means on the shaft between the end Walls of the box and bearing supports standing clear above the oil bath, a cover resting upon said bearing supports and covering all of said slinger disk means for stopping oil thrown out, said bearing supports and cover being spaced from the box walls to allow air to flow freely through the box and over said oil slinger disk means.

8. A shaft bearing assembly comprising in combination, a bearing box having a bottom and side walls and end walls for providing a basin for a bath of oil and shaft bearing supports carrying shaft bearings above the oil level in the basin, a shaft carrying centrifugal oil slinger means within said box including the one near each end of the box, a roof-shaped cover resting on said supports extending the full length of the box except for clearance at the ends which 6 catches all excess oil thrown out and returns it to said bath, the box, supports and cover providing free space along the length 0f the shaft through the assembly for the passage 0f air t0 cool the bath and slinger means, and a top cover closing the box above the roof-shaped cover.

9. A bearing assembly comprising in combination, a shaft, a box-like oil-holding bearing housing, a shaft bearing and support therefor within said housing and spaced inwardly from the ends thereof, grooved oil slinger disks secured on said shaft adjacent the ends of the housing and beyond said bearing and support, means on said shaft forming thrust bearing elements to resist end thrust of said shaft against said bearing support, the housing having ends providing clearance around said shaft, and a roof-like shield mounted above said shaft and its bearings and slinger disks, Said roof-like shield having sides sloping toward the sides of the housing, extending the full length of the housing except for a clearance space at each end, and being mounted for quick removal without disturbing the shaft mounting in the housing.

WILLIAM S. ANDERSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,397,115 Smith Nov. 15, 1921 1,561,076 Heitman Nov. 10, 1925 1,989,619 Ledeen Jan. 29, 1935 2,012,009 Hobart Aug. 20, 1935 2,430,236 Mercier Nov. 4, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 15,699 Great Britain 1893 

